Kashmir Narrator spoke to United Jihad Council chief Syed Salahuddin in Muzaffarabad over a range of issues. The interview was conducted few days before Al-Qaida announced its presence in Kashmir

Q: The US recently designated you a global terrorist. What is your reaction to it?

The US move is legally groundless and morally unjustified. Instead of bringing us under any pressure, it will invigorate our resolve and operational efficiency and urge to free ourselves from Indian subjugation. It will have no impact on our freedom struggle. You see it is just a local executive order from the US government. It is not backed by any international sanctions and therefore can’t affect the image of the popular and legitimate freedom struggle of Kashmiris.The US recently designated you a global terrorist. What is your reaction to it?

Weaknesses in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy is an admitted fact. But US’ foreign policy revolves around its material interest and global designs and keeps on changing from time to time. So we need not to get worked up on this issue and unnecessarily worry about it. In any case, the US has never been serious or sincere in supporting our cause. It has rather always exploited the Kashmir issue for serving its regional interest.

Martyrdom of mujahideen is really very painful, but has always, in the long run, given a boost to the organisation and its operational efficiency. In this kind of a struggle you always lose men but there are many others to replace them. The HM is the largest indigenous organisation and has survived decades of brutal onslaught by the Indian forces. The HM retains its appeal for the local youth despite the reverses it has suffered from time to time. At present there may be some logistical crises, like shortage of weapons and trained men, but these are timely problems. We have seen these problems in the past and know how to overcome them.

Both, a spontaneous reaction as well as a strategical move to sustain the struggle and continue it at the upper possible level.

Criticism of the leadership is not justified. After Burhan’s martyrdom, there was an unexpected massive public uprising. The timely intervention of leadership saved it from at least anarchy and fragmentation. In any case the uprising was too spontaneous and voluminous to be guided properly.

Initially, the protest calendar was issued in response to a demand of our field mujahideen. Unfortunately, it was misunderstood and used to create cracks within pro-freedom groups, therefore we withdrew it and left it to the discretion of leadership which later issued its own protest calendar.

This impression is not right. HM has its organisational presence in every district, certainly at some places it is very thin. In south it seems stronger because the media is focusing too much on the situation in south Kashmir. We intend to strengthen our presence in all districts and spread the net of our operations.

Definitely not. HM possesses a well-trained cadre. Sabzar was mistakenly considered as a successor of Burhan. He was only a senior commander in his team. Mahmood Gaznavi continues to command after Burhan.

Unfortunately, the criticism is justified. The sentiments of youth are too overwhelming to respond to the instructions of leadership.

HM disowned his statement. Some elements whom I don’t want to name are having an identity crisis or personal grudges with the current leadership. They have influenced Zakir’s mindset which is why he has taken a separate route. All our men have to follow the organization’s code of conduct and abide by organizational discipline. If Zakir’s wants to be back in HM, he has to show wholehearted obedience to the leadership and organisation. You see it needs a certain level of understanding to think and talk about important issues. You can’t criticize the leadership or Pakistan just for the sake of it. It is essential for the success of a struggle to have the support of the base camp which we provide from here in Azad Kashmir. Ours is an indigenous movement but it needs a logistical assistance, moral and diplomatic support which Pakistan is doing despite pressures on it.

Neither operating nor in Valley.

Whosoever supports our cause, sympathises with the sufferings of Kashmiris and condemns Indian tyranny is our ally.

In the light of the frozen mindset of BJP leadership and its repeated utterances, the permanent solution means to take Azad JK back by the dint of force or forcibly convert the ceasefire line into a permanent boundary, which Rajnath does not know will affect the Indian union itself.

Talks have been and are futile unless they are Kashmir-centric, tripartite, time-bound and held in the light of UN resolutions which grant the right of self-determination to Kashmiris.

The ongoing freedom struggle to end Indian military rule is undoubtedly a glorious jihad carried on by mujahideen. The struggle is governed and guided by the code of conduct provided by Islam. There is nothing new in our outlook or approach in this regard. It is just that some people are trying to create confusion and sow seeds of discord among our ranks by raking up such issues.

Definitely, all such unjustified moves and display of double standards and neglect of genuine humanitarian issues will stimulate forces like ISIS that have an agenda of global jihad which our movement has nothing to do with.

Kashmir struggle is altogether an indigenous one. There is no need or scope for a foreign element and we don’t support or endorse the likes of ISIS coming to Kashmir or operating their franchises in Kashmir by indoctrinating the local youth.